A Long Time.....

So it's been a really long time since my last post. Hmm, I will have to catch up. New posts coming very soon... :D

Halloween Pics

So here are just a few pictures of the LoneStar Team from Lana's Halloween Party...

Lana and Jermaine

Lana and Shealee

Shealee and Jason, the Ninja

Tasha

Rob and his wife
"I told you to wait in the truck!"

And of course... Hunter, the cheerleader
(she unfortunately didn't get to attend the party though...this was before we went trick-or-treating)

MY NEW RIDE

Check out my new ride!

I feel like the luckiest girl at LoneStar!

H743 Holders for Your Back-to-School Needs

LoneStar Badge & Sign offers a wide variety of vinyl badge holders to fit almost every application. Right now, you might be in search of the perfect badge holder for your students heading back to school. Check out the H743 multi-pocket badge holders for the perfect solution to your back-to-school needs.

The H743 badge holders are made from a durable vinyl material, so they will hold strong for your students all semester. There are no attached fasteners, but this badge holder has multiple slots along the top to attach your favorite lanyard or a vinyl strap clip. The holders also feature multiple pockets that are perfect for organizing student photo ID or security badges, class schedules, pens, notes from friends, and more! Your students will love this handy holder, so check them out online today while supplies last!

Another Announcement!

Alicia, LoneStar's Operations Manager, just welcomed the birth of a beautiful baby girl. Corynne was born yesterday, 7/30, at 2:12pm.

Congratulations Alicia!

LoneStar Badge & Sign's NEW Blog

The LoneStar ID Insider

Check out LoneStar's NEW Blog...The LoneStar ID Insider. There you can take a look at some of LoneStar's newest products, hottest deals, and get a behind-the scenes look at the LoneStar Team. Check it out today and leave your thoughts and opions by particiapting in the online polls and comments section. We hope to see you there soon!

Our Company Picnic

LoneStar Badge & Sign

July 12th, 2008
1st Annual Company Picnic

Announcement!

Congratulations to LoneStar's Layout Artist, Chad, on the birth of his baby boy. Baby Jack was born yesterday, 7/10.

Best wishes Chad!

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!

For your next patriotic celebration, try an imprinted American Flag lanyard or lapel pin as a creative party favor or decoration.

Happy Birthday!!

This weekend, both Alicia and myself will be celebrating our birthdays! Alicia's is Friday, June 27th, and my is Sunday, June 29th. Whoo hoo!!

Happy Birthday Alicia!

My Co-workers

Here we are...Shealee and Lana (and me of course). This is the Sales Department at

LoneStar Badge & Sign.

These are the most fun girls to work with! ;)

LoneStar Combo Kits for your Every Need

Have you ever had the need to order lanyards, badge holders, or inserts all at the same time, maybe particularly when planning for summer camp or back-to-school time? Well, it can be quite a task having to find badge holders that will hold your size name badge, or inserts to fit your badge holders, or finding lanyards with the best fastener for the badge holders you choose. It can be a chore! So instead, check out LoneStar's Combo Kits online today to take the inconvenience out of ordering.

LoneStar offers quality vinyl badge holders, corresponding inserts, and perfectly matching lanyards shipped to you all together. Find a large selection of these Combos to fit your every need. Order online today and save BIG when you order in bulk. Hurry, while supplies last!

Find What You're Looking for on eBay!

Are you looking for a smaller quantities or extremely discounted prices on your favorite items? Or maybe you're looking for an item you can't normally find on any other website. If so, definitely check out eBay for some of the hottest deals and promotions, along with your favorite items packaged in quantities that work for you.

While you're visiting eBay, stop by LoneStar's eBay Store for all the quality identification products you seek. In LoneStar's eBay Store, you can see the most discounted prices on so many of their most popular overstock and discontinued items. There are vinyl badge holders in all sizes, along with any color lanyard you desire. Also, most of these items are available to ship immediately and in lots of 25 or 50 pieces (larger lots are also available). Some items are even offered with Free Shipping!

No matter what you're looking for, find it on eBay. And if identification products are what you're after, check out LoneStar's eBay Store today!

Frames & Backers

When designing the perfect name badge, don't forget to think about the back of the badge as well. Although not as many will see the back of your name badge, there are many benefits to adding either a Frame or Backer to any name badge you order.

Frames are usually made from a sturdy metal or other long-lasting materials. Name badges will sit perfectly into their corresponding frames, to give the badges added strength and durability. Frames can also help provide a more "finished" or professional-looking badge by actually framing and accenting the artwork laid out on the front of the badge. The metal frames look especially nice also, when paired with a matching metal colored name badges.

Backers are also a great way to improve the strength and longevity of your name badges. They're usually made from a much lighter weight material than a frame, which makes them a great alternative for use around children, or hospitals and restaurants. Badges that have Backers made from an acrylic or other similarly strong materials are much more likely to be long-lasting and better for everyday wear. Backers make a great add-on when used with engraved plastic or acrylic badges.

Whether you prefer Frames or Backers, make sure you find the most comfortable and durable options to perfectly suit your name badge needs.

Reelin' in the Opportunities

Many Badge Reels are retractable and usually come with a choice of fastener, for ease of use to the wearer. This makes them more than just a handy tool for marketing. Along with the use of lanyards and name badges, Badge Reels provide an added opportunity to reach out to more prospective new clients.

Reels that can be personalized with your company's logo or artwork are great and can be a valuable identification or marketing tool. The best part about Badge Reels though, is that they can be used in conjunction with a lanyard or name badge to optimize your company's exposure, without being overly flashy. They are a quite a bit more unique than lanyards or standard name badges as well, so wearing a combination of the three can give your client a confident feel that you're overflowing with creativity.

Next time you're in need of a new way to catch a client's eye, try a Badge Reel and start reelin' in the opportunities!

A Blog Post About a Blog

Are you looking for more information on some of the hottest and most popular identification products?

Maybe you need some helpful hints on how to choose the perfect badge or lanyard layout?

Perhaps you're interested in finding out more about the benefits of shopping at an eBay Store, or setting up a simplified Corporate Name Badge re-ordering account?

Well if so, search no further than LoneStar's new BLOG. Find the most accurate information on our latest and greatest products, as well as stay up-to-date with any new promotions or special events taking place at LoneStar. We'll give you the heads up straight from our behind the scenes experts and keep you in-the-know on the hottest in the identification product world.

Check out The LoneStar Blog today!

Sick Days

No employer likes to hear that one of their employees is sick and can't make it to work. You really hope they feel better and can return to work soon, but you've got another problem on your hands too... Who is going to fill in to tackle their duties until they are will enough to return to work?

If you've prepared for this day, suddenly becoming short-handed doesn't have to be so bad. A few extra cross-training sessions with your other employees during down-time, and a lot of thorough communication between all departments, could be the answer you're seeking for those days when someone calls in unexpectedly. For example, here at Lonestar, we only have one employee in our shipping department. If he isn't in the office for one day, our packages won't get shipped on time. With time sensitive material needing to be send out everyday, we just can't get behind on our shipping schedule. As a preventative measure to avoid this type of mishap, we figured out that by training a few other employees in our sales and production departments to be the "back-up" shippers, we are able to ship everything on time even when our shipper is out sick. With the sales and production departments both taking turns doing the shipping (one ships in the morning and the other ships after lunch), the work in both departments can still be done in a timely manner, without anybody falling behind on their own daily responsibilities.

This theory can carry throughout all departments of the workplace. Try to pinpoint employee likes and talents, and see if there may be another job they would be interested in preforming, in conjunction with their daily assignments. In case of those last minute situations, have a few employees from each department trained in another department's tasks. You will always be prepared no matter who isn't able to make it to work.

Introducing...Custom Signs!

Signs can be custom produced in almost any shape or size. They can be a variety of colors and have either engraved letters, raised letters, or even braille. Choosing the correct sign to fit your special needs may be a challenge, but it certainly doesn't have to be, if you know what you're looking for.

First, make a decision on the material you would like to use for your sign. Consider the shape and size of the sign you're trying to design when choosing the material. Remember that the bigger the sign gets, the heavier the sign gets. So, if you're looking to make a larger sign, try a lighter weight plastic material as opposed to a heavier metal alternative. Generally, the most common sign thicknesses produced in plastic are either 1/8" or 1/16".

Next, consider the location of your sign. Will it be placed outside? If so, make sure you include screw holes in the corners of the sign's design to help for easy mounting. Make sure you also keep the weather in mind and choose a sturdy, durable material to fit your local climate. Bright colors and larger, bold letters also work well outside, to help the sign stand out. Busy signs or signs with a lot of detail aren't recommended for outdoor use, as the fine attention to the sign's detail may be overlooked when mounted outside, usually above eye-level.

If your signs will be hung inside instead, you might include some type of braille on the sign as well, to help the practicality of the sign's design. When deciding on a sign for inside a hospital or school building, make sure you consider the colors of other existing signs placed throughout the building. Be sure to follow any ADA specifications or special policies set forth by your company or organization. Make sure also, to carefully choose colors that will fit nicely with the building's signs designs and the rest of the interior decor. For mounting the signs indoors, adhesive tape may also be a better option than screw holes.

A great feature that you might added to your sign's design is a name slot or window slot for easily changing out custom text. You might use your signs to display teachers or doctors names, or for suite or room numbers. A window or label slot in your sign will give you the added option to just quickly switch out the sign's text at your convenience.

Whatever you decide for your sign, let it be a reflection of your personal creativity. With the above ideas and some of your own input, you can custom produce almost any type of sign to fit any type of location. Be as creative as you would like when designing your signs and try to let them be a unique way to help lost hospital patients find their way, to help label teachers classrooms in school, or to introduce your company to the eyes of prospective new clients.

Personalized Badges, Window Badges, or Label Slot Badges?

The choice between using personalized name badges, window badges, or label badges may not be an easy decision for every company. Choosing the very best badge to fit your needs, as well as most practical for your company, can be a challenge, especially if you're not familiar with the different styles available.

All badges will be offered in many different sizes, shapes, and colors, but try these tips to help you successfully choose the best style of badge for your employees:

1. A window or label badge might be the best option for larger companies. With many employees, the cost and time to custom produce every badge with a personalized name and/or title can become too much to keep organized.

2. If you would like low-maintenance badges, stick to a label badge. There are no additional parts to purchase separately and the badge is forever re-usable. Simply change the name label on the on the front of the badge and it's now ready in a snap for the next employee who will use it.

3. For a more professional-looking or classy badge, you might try a personalized style. Some personalized styles are often offered in metal with matching metal frames or other accessory attachments, to help adorn the badges with the most sophistication you can ask for. A personalized style isn't always the most cost effective option, but would be great for smaller companies with fewer employees, who want to make a large statement with their name badges.

4. When at a large convention or Tradeshow, it might also be a great idea to choose a window or label badge, opposed to a personalized style. They again, are most likely easier to order and more convenient for the larger quantities of people who might be attending. Also, make sure the window or label slots are large enough to display your names or titles. Many visitors will want to know who you are right away, from far away, so bright, bold colors printed on the inserts would be best, too.

The Perfect Lanyard

Choosing the perfect lanyards may be a little confusing, and even overwhelming at first. Try these pointers though, to help you assemble the perfect lanyards:

1. First, decide on a material for your lanyards. The availability of the actual type of material might depend on the printing process you choose, however, the width will usually be up to you. You should base your width partially on the artwork or text that will be included in the design and chose a wider lanyard for larger or more detailed logos. Remember when choosing the material type, to take your application of the lanyard into consideration as well. You wouldn't want a lanyard that would be too bulky or wide if the employee wearing them is active or performing rigorous daily duties.

2. Next, choose the best fastener option to best fit your needs. There are usually a wide variety of fasteners to choose from, and most lanyards will come with both metal and non-metal options. The standard fastener will usually be a Keyring, which is great for holding supply closet or dressing room keys. There are also many more clips, hooks, and other attachments to choose from, to display photo ID badges or vinyl badge holders. When choosing the fastener, just be sure to select something sturdy enough to support the items you wish to carry on your lanyards.

3. Try a Buckle release, Quick release, or Length Adjustment. Are you looking for a safe lanyard or a style that might work well around small children? A buckle or quick release, or length adjustment bead will add comfort, convenience, and safety to any lanyard you choose. Again, also remember that the more attachments you add to your lanyards, the heavier the lanyard will be. In order to avoid the lanyards from becoming bothersome to the wearer, you might want to try a smaller fastener to help balance out the added weight of the safety attachment.

4. Carefully select your printing colors for your artwork, as well. If you choose a dark lanyard material color, you might opt for lighter printing colors, such as white or yellow. Lighter colors should help your artwork stand out against a dark background and create a more dramatic and noticeable appearance for your lanyards. The process you choose to use for printing might also limit or expand your color options. For example, Screen printed lanyards generally will only offer one or two printing colors per lanyard due to the complexity and time associated with the process, as where a Full-color style would enable you to include as many colors as you would like.

5. Request Samples. If you're still having difficulties choosing a lanyard style or deciding which options are best for you, try a few lanyards out first before you commit to anything. Most companies will allow you to order a sample lanyard or even a few different styles of lanyards to compare, in order to determine what you will like and/or need. Although a sample with customized printing might be an added cost or only available if you place an order, an actual production sample of the lanyard you select might be your very best option.

When ordering lanyards, just make sure you explore all the options available before placing your order, to help you determine the perfect lanyard.

Lanyards vs. Name Badges

So here's the question; which is better...NAME BADGES or LANYARDS? I've found that both can really be effective marketing tools, as well as a way to unify employee wardrobes or recognize employee accomplishments. However, I also wonder if employees have a preference or if one really is a better choice than the other.

From personal experience, I know that custom name badges can be a great way to break the ice between the employee wearing the badge and their potential new client. It's a quick and painless way to avoid those awkward introductions and gives the customer comfort in knowing who you are right away. Name badges can be great, as long as they don't physically interfere with the tasks you will be preforming throughout a normal workday or falling off when in the middle of a critical meeting. If they're too big or clumsy, they may get in the way of the job at hand. A small name badge with a sturdy fastener would be ideal.


The same can be said with lanyards. They can be handy work tools, perhaps a retailer carrying sets of keys attached to a lanyard, to make the day a little more convenient. They can also be great at large conventions or events to help display or promote your company in a creative way. However they can also become a nuisance hanging around the neck all day. Lanyards that are too long or have too much weight hanging from them can once again get in the way of the employee's job, therefore defeating the lanyard's initial purpose of convenience. Lanyard and attachment choices will greatly affect the item's practicality and are an important factor when choosing the best lanyard.

As far as marketing is concerned, lanyards and name badges can most likely be just as effective as the other, of course with some slight differences. I would honestly say that name badges are going to be better for initially introducing the company, the employee, and even an important company slogan or motto. Lanyards might be better for use after that initial greeting, for introducing new ideas, products, or promotions. It seems like lanyards might even be better if worn in conjunction with the name badge, partly because they don't reach out on a personal level as much to a prospective client.

No matter which style you prefer, and the choice is definitely up to you and your employees, it can be said for sure that they will both serve as a way to make a lasting impression on a new customer. They can be effective for motivating employees or introducing something new within the company. Choosing a comfortable lanyard or name badge will earn a "Thank you" from your employees, so keep that in mind when trying to decide the style that will best fit your needs.